But even some of you horrible horrible geeks like sports. Even if it is only fencing. (Epee at that). However, even Fris watched the World Cup final. There I was, intending to ask how she was, and instead we both spent hours mourning the shameful (and funny) end to Zinedine Zidane's career.

But srsly Zizou, you thought no-one would see?

Italy win, as predicted by your own Uncle Taylorbell over one month ago.

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Skelton beat Williams in the Commonwealth Title fight last night. That means that, unless there are some hardy sheep in New Zealand, Skelton is the best boxer in the whole Commonwealth who could be arsed to turn up last night.

Also, Olympic silver medalist, Amir Kahn (now 19 y.o.) beat down some amatuer inside four minutes (again). Genuinely, I missed the fight due to making a cup of tea. Two years from now Kahn better be good, otherwise, I'm owed at least twelve teabags.

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I was hoping that that dead pretty tennis player would win this weekend ... but Federer beat him 3-1.

i seriously thought Zidane's head was going to come out of IdriveaMaterazzi's back.

it really is a shame to see a player of his skill leave the international pitch in such a disgraceful manner. as much as i liked watching Zidane play, he really did end his international career on the same note as when Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield's ear.

i seriously thought Zidane's head was going to come out of IdriveaMaterazzi's back.

it really is a shame to see a player of his skill leave the international pitch in such a disgraceful manner. as much as i liked watching Zidane play, he really did end his international career on the same note as when Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield's ear.

for shame, for shame.

I understand what you're saying ... it beggars belief the way he acted at the end. But that won't be the dominant footnote in his career. Unfortunately, neither will a second Big Cup medal. (I'm wearing a Zidane shirt now). If France had lost prior to Zidane's expulsion, I would've been a million times happier.

This has been a Big Cup of goodbyes, over all. No more Zidane, no more Cocu, no more Kahn, no more Figo, no more Crespo ... adieu all.

I hope to write up a big and enthralling 'Big Cup' essay tomorrow. So stay tuned, fact fans!

Yeah, but Germany and Argentina are young and should be excellent next time around. Ghana also has a lot of excellent horses to add some fresh blood into the WC hierarchy. I'm even interested in how Freddy Adieu will turn out (I'd be happy if America could just reach a level of play where it isn't painful to watch).

If the WC could just be tweaked somehow where so many matches weren't decided by penalty kicks I'd be a bonified fan._________________"And then the sea was closed again, above us."

Why not sudden death? Play in shortened quarters with breaks in between. In a last case scenario maybe play with one less player or make the rules more conducive to offensive attacks. Has anything like this been tried?

The way I see it, penalty kicks are a discredit to the true form of the game. It's so frustrating to watch regular match play and as a novice to try and appreciate the flowing strategy and attacks / counter attacks, only to have most of the games come down to a shoot out. I agree they're intense, but they aren't a true representation of the sport.

It would be like if I took basketball and had it decided with a series of 1:1 drills. Would it be exciting? You bet, but it's not basketball it's a 1:1 drill and that's what penalty kicks feel like to me._________________"And then the sea was closed again, above us."

do you think canavarro would have taken the award if zidane's actions had aken place in time for them to be considered by the voters?

i wonder. clearly, zidane was getting a bit of a happy send-off to a great career by at least some of the voters. he played somewhat poorly in the group stages's first 2 matches and then missed the third, but canavarro played excellently for the entire tournament.